Shinobu Asagoe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shinobu Asagoe (浅越しのぶ), born June 28, 1976, Hyogo, Japan) is a Japanese female professional tennis player. She turned professional in 1997.

2000 was the first year in which she finished in the WTA top 100 (no. 72). In the US Open that year, she defeated Patty Schnyder, a top 50 player. She also reached her first WTA tour quarterfinal that year at the Princess Cup at Tokyo defeating Ai Sugiyama and losing to Monica Seles. She also represented Japan at the Sydney Olympics.

In 2003, she reached her first WTA tour singles final. In 2004, she reached her second career singles final in Hobart, as well as her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open. On April 18, 2005, Asagoe reached her career-high singles ranking: 21st. In June, she reached her career high doubles ranking (18th). As of September 2005, she is the highest ranked Asian female tennis player.

Asagoe's most memorable match was a second-round marathan at Wimbledon 2003, when her stressed-out opponent, Daniela Hantuchova, melted down well on the way to what looked like a routine two-set win. Eventually, after nearly three hours, Asagoe won the contest 12-10 in the third set.

Plays doubles with Katarina Srebotnik; at Australian Open 2006, reached the semifinal, beating (2) Cara Black/Rennae Stubbs 6-3 4-6 6-0. They lost to eventual champions Yan/Zheng in the semifinals.

At the US Open that same year, she lost her first round match in straight sets to Jelena Kostanic. She had announced the US Open would be her last tournament. In doubles, with Akiko Morigami, they won their first round match 6-1 6-3, and they were to play against the 14th seeds, Bartoli/Peer. Bartoli/Peer were up 6-4 5-2, before Shinobu and Akiko won five straight games to make it 6-5. They held many set points, but could not convert, thus forcing a tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, they were down 6-2, but somehow managed to win six straight points, thus taking the tiebreaker, saving four straight match points. They took the final set 6-4.

Asagoe retired at the 2006 US Open after losing her third round doubles match (with Morigami) to the world's top-ranked team, Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur.